Liquid dispenser



April 16, 1935. I J, c. BARREDA Er AL LIQUID DISPEN SER Filed Feb. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS, a7. 0'. BAjZREZZ- l AN H J JWLAZ/GHL/YZ fij iffi Aprifl 16, 1935. J. c. BARREDA El AL LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z Z/Z7 INVENTORS,

J: 0'. BARREDA AND H JMQ'LAUGHLZM .B Y A TTORNEY, J ,i'r:

Patented Apr. 15, 1935 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSER Application February 19, 1934, Serial No. 711,934

7 Claims.

{I'his invention relates to a device for dispensing milk from a multi-gallon milk-can into a drinking cup or other receptacle; or, in a broader sense, it relates to an improved liquid dispenser; it being an improvement or extension of the invention described in our application No. 620,514, allowed Dec. 5, 1933; and it includes, in combination, a cooling chamber, a compounding or mixing device, an improved valve-mechanism, a collapsible retreating spout, and other novel and useful features presently described in detail.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved dispenser for milk or other beverage to be kept sanitary and cool between dispensing operations as well as during the dispensing operations, and to deliver the cool beverage into a cup or other receptacle, or into receptacles such as paper-cups, in predetermined measured quantitles, and in such position that the receptacles are in convenient position to be easily removed.

Another object is to provide an improved form or kind of cooling chamber which has an open lower end normally closed by an upwardly and downwardly movable floor which latter constitutes a seat for the liquid container and also constitutes an element of a hoist to raise the liquid container into the main imperiorate and heat-insulated part or" the cooling chamber.

Another object is to provide an improved dual or two-piece valve mechanism including mutually controlled and separately or independently operable valve-closures, the outer one shielding the inner one, so the latter cannot be opened by means extraneous to the container, and so that liquid from an extraneous source cannot enter past this valve mechanism, whereby adulteration, substitution and contamination of the liquid contents of the container is prevented.

Another object is to provide an improved hoisting device that includes a Windlass having a tubular axle and a single hoist-line=, the latter extending freely through the axle and winding drums and having its ends secured to opposite sides of the container-seat so the latter is substantially balanced on the Windlass.

Another object is to provide an improved valvecontrolling device which normally holds the inletvalve closed to prevent flowing of liquid from the container into the measuring compartment, which is operable to permit the valve mechanism to'open the inlet and close the outlet of the measuring compartment to permit the latter to be filled with liquid, and which is automatically operable to close the inlet and open the outlet of the measuring compartment (by means of the valve-mechanism) for permitting the liquid to fiow from the measuring compartment into a receptacle or drinking cup.

Another object is to provide a detent for engagement with the valve-controlling device so as to securely hold the latter in the position for holding the inlet of the measuring compartment closed while the liquid container and receiver are in their lowered position, and a simple and practical means to release the detent from engagement with the valve-controlling means when the container and receiver are at or near their upermost position, viz., the position where they are convenient for being reached and manipulated by hands of persons using them.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the complete hoisting and dispensing device, only a part being broken out of the cooling chamber to conserve drawing space, the operating parts being in the position for removing an empty container, preparatory to replacing it with a full container.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail fragmental view showing the construction and mounting of the Windlass with its automatic safety-device or detent, as viewed from the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along the U line c-3 of Fig. 1, the liquid container being omitted as if removed from the seat therefor.

Fig. 4 is an under side view of a closure or plate of special construction and adaptation that forms a part of the general combination of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical sectional View showing the cooling chamber closed and containing therein the liquid container and the ice-pan, a part of the combination being broken out to conserve drawing space, parts of the Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a valve-seat memher which also constitutes a spout-receiving compartment.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of the member shown in Fig. 8, of the outlet valve-closure, and of the valve-lifter-tube having the valve-lifter therein and also having therein a part of the supplemental pin or rod.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the inlet valve closure.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which the similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in the several views, the invention is described in detail as follows:

At l is shown a milk-can such as used in shipment of milk from farm or diary to market or distributing plant, the cover l2 being of the usual external shape and preferably sealed on the main part i I so as to prevent tampering with the contents of the milk-can which will hereinafter be called a liquid container, as a broader term, for the invention is not limited to the use of a milk-can nor to the dispensing of milk. I

The cover or closure i2 becomes the bottom of the receptacle or liquid container when inverted, as shown, for the purpose of dispensing the liquid or beverage, and this bottom is provided with an opening i3, primarily, in which is fitted and soldered or otherwise secured a hollow or tubular member H5 constituting an element of the cover and having an opening i5, a closure-seat H5 and a valve-seat 52' therein, also a vertical bore 58 and a guide-tube is, the latter being tight-fitted in the bore so as to be a unitary element of the member i i, or substantially integral therewith. This member i i may be die-cast from appropriate non-corrosive metal, and its lower end is formed with a downwardly tapered wall-portion it that forms a retaining seat for a telescoping spout 2! whose upper end is downwardly tapered to conform to or snugly fit' against the part 20 when in the dispensing position shown in Figures l and 9. An automatic closure -22 is pivoted on the spout 21 to exclude insects, dust and other extraneous matter. In Fig. 5, theinner section 2 la is shown wholly within the outer section 2 lb, while the entire spout is shown wholly within the hollow or spout-compartment of the member M, being held therein by means of a disc or plate 23- which may be of any appropriate material, shape and construction, but here shown as constructed of an upper sheet 23a, a lower sheet 2322, the latter having a slot that extends from 230 to and through its margin; and both of these sheets may be of fibrous material, the outer or lower sheet being relatively thick and rigid so as to support the inner sheet which may be relatively thin and adapted to be punctured and torn with comparative ease. These two sheets, constituting the closing disc, combine to exclude extraneous matter during shipment of the liquid container, and also combine to hold the parts of the dispensing mechanism in the positions shown in Fig. 5, so as to prevent a premature start at dispensing or measuring of the liquid. 7 This latter function is of importance, for it is desirable that the milk or beverage be cooled before it is dispensed. Any appropriate means may be employed to secure the disc 23 in the seat It if necessary or desirable.

The flange 22a of the cover is tightly but removably fitted in the neck of the can or container-body H so as to avoid leaking of the milk or liquid when the container is inverted, and within this flange of the cover is formed and secured a measuring compartment 2 iwhich has an inlet through a valve-seat 25, shown in Fig. 5 as the lower end of a mixing or compounding tube 26 which is not here specifically described, being the subject matter of our co-pending application No. 717,450, filed March 26, 1934; so it is suificient here to say that each measured and dispensed portion of the milk includes the upper rich with the lower and intermediate comparatively poor or creamless strata of the milk.

An inlet valve-member or closure 27 is normally seated (as in Fig. 5) in the valve-seat 25. This valve-member, as more clearly shown in Fig. 10, has a marginal seat-engaging part 270,, an upper set of guiding elements 212), and recesses 270, the latter constituting ports or passages for the inflow of liquid into the measuring compartment 24 from the mixing tube 26 when this valvemember is lowered with its companion valvemember 28, the latter having a guiding stud 28c thereon and slidingly fitted in a bore 27d of the upper valve member. This interconnection of these valve-members renders them mutually guiding, so they are substantially the same as if rigidly united as regards their operation in dis- 7 pensing; but their disunion makes it impossible for any one to tamper with the valve-member 21, it being guarded by the valve member 28, andany manipulation of the valve-member 28 will not raise the valve-member 21, except when in the inverted dispensing position, and at this time it is impossible to pour contaminating or adulterating liquid into the container past these valves, especially in View of the fact that both the'inlet and outlet of, the measuring compartment are never open at the same time; for in operation, one valve closes as'or slightly before the other opens.

Referring again to the telescoped spout, and especially to the part 21b, in Fig. 5, it is seen that it combines with the disc or closure 23 for holding the valve-member 21 against the valve-seat 25, so the measuring compartment cannot fill until the disc or closure 23 is removed; however, when the spout is in the dispensing position shown in Fig. 9, the dual valve, 2l28 may be raised and lowered at will by means presently described; but first, it is explained that the measuring compartment should not be filled until immediately before it is emptied in the operation of dispensing it, lest the cream in the measuring compartment become interchanged with the heavier and poorer milk at the bottom of the main storage compartment of the container.

A valve-lifting pin or rod 29 is slidable in the tube is and has a head which secures it in place, and its lower end terminates withinthe tube and is preferably recessed, as shown in Fig. '7, to receive the sharp end of a supplemental lifting pin or rod 39, the latter being pivoted to a lever 3! which carries a receiver 32 of the kind shown or of any appropriate kind. The lever 3! is pivoted at 33 to a support?! which is preferably, but not essentially, united with a floor or seat 35 for the container 2 !l2. This seat a 35, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, has an annular wall or ridge 35a, so shaped as to conform to the convex outer side of the closure I2; a central aperture 352), large enough to permit the uninterrupted passing of the closure or plate 23 therethrough; supporting arms 35c, apertured to receive the enlarged ends 7 V of a supporting and lifting line 35; and apertured or tubular guiding elements 35d, slidingly engaged with supporting andguiding rods or posts 3?. The member 35 may also be provided with an index 352 to register with a complementary index (not shown) on the closure 52 so that the guiding tube 49 may easily be caused to register with the lifting rod 3B When the latter is in its proper operating position shown. The member 35 may also be provided with an elastic cushioning seat or gasket 35 to fit air-tight against a complemental seat of a combined supporting frame-member and floor-member 38. As a support for a super-structure 39, secured thereto by any appropriate means, this member 38 comblues with the members 35 and 39 to form a heatinsulated cooling chamber which is large enough to receive the liquid container and an ice-pan 40, the latter being supported on legs 4| for spacing it above the top (inverted bottom) of the container I! for, in practice, it is contemplated to use dry ice, and if it were too near the liquid container, it would freeze the liquid. The dry ice may be encased in semi-insulating material before placing it in the pan 4!] so the heat exchange will be gradual and so the duration of its cooling effect may be increased. As here shov the double wall and cover of the cooling chamber are air-spaced; but it is quite within the scope of this invention to fill the air-space with any appropriate insulating material in lieu of th dead air in the dual or hollow wall and top. It is also within the scope of this invention to similarly heat-insulate the container-seat or cooling chamber floor 35.

Although it is possible to dispense the liquid from the device in the condition shown in Fig. 1, it would be both inconvenient and unsanitary because of the nearness of the dispensing spout and receiver to the floor, so a hoisting and elevating device is provided to obviate those difficulties and also to render it comparatively easy to place the liquid-container and ice-pan in the cooling chamber. The lifting line 36 has been referred to as a member of the hoisting device; a windlass of special construction is shown at 42, and has a hollow shaft 42a on which is secured two drums 421) which are apertured at 42c; and a hand-crank 42d is secured on the shaft 42a, for turning the winding drums and Winding the line 36 thereon. The ends of the line 36 are secured to the arms 35c, and its intermediate part extends through the hollow shaft 42a and through the apertures 420, so the lifting line automatically adjusts itself for balancing the floor or seat'35 and its contents and adjuncts. Bearings 38a are united with the frame-member 38, and the shaft 42a is journalled therein.

To prevent accidental falling of the seat 35 and its contents, a ratchet mechanism is employed, comprising a peripherally apertured or notched disc 43, secured on the frame-member 33, or united therewith in a fixed position; a springpressed lever or detent 44, pivoted at 45 to the lever. or crank 42d; and a spring-pressed pivot and plunger 46 which connects the handle of the crank to its arm. When hoisting the seat or floor and its contents, the handle is grasped and thrust lengthwise so the pintle 46 swings the detent 44 out of the engaged notch of the lockingdlsc 43 and beyond the path of interference with the line 36, and while so held, the crank is turned, causing the line 36 to be wound on the drums 42b, and inasmuch as the line 35 passes over properly located idler-sheaves 47, it exerts a direct vertical pull or lift upon the parts to which its ends are secured. In the event that the handle should slip from the hands of the user, the ratchet instantly takes effect and prevents the seat 35 from falling. When the elastic cushion 35; meets the part 38, it compresses under the lifting force, and besides, there is a degree of elasticity and yielding in the arms 35c and in the lifting line 35, all combining to supply a sufiicient elastic yielding to permit the crank to be turned until the detent 44 reaches the next-adjacent notch in the disc 43. Any desired number of notches may be supplied in the disc 43.

A detent 48 is pivoted at 49 and engages with a projection of the lever 3|, and a weight 5! is secured at any desired adjustment on the lever 3| by means of a set-screw 52. The adjustment of this weight should be such as to overbalance the opposite end of the lever and the normal adjuncts thereof, viz., the parts 21, 23, 28, 32 and an empty or filled receptacle or drinking cup; so, when the seat 35 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, for removing an empty container, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1; but when the container is removed, the rod 30 falls from its vertical position, out of the Way of the full container being placed on the seat 35; and now, when the full container is seated and turned to the proper position with respect to the rod 39, the latter is raised to its vertical position (preferably after the seat and its contents are raised part-way to the uppermost position), and the sharp end of the rod 33 is placed at the point 230 (see Figs. 4 and 5), next pushed through the thin sheet 23a and into thetube I9 until its end rests against the lower end of the pin or lifter Z9, and it is held in this position by the weight of elements 3|, 33 and 5|, also locked or latched against accidental movement by the elements just mentioned in combination with the elements 48, 49 and 50; next, the closure 23 is unseated and pulled against the rod 33 which tears the thin paper at the slot shown in Fig. 4; and finally, the hoisting is resumed and continued until the seat (at 35f) adjoins the frame-plate or member 38. Just be- 1 fore this final elevation is reached by the seat (or cooling chamber floor) 35, the arm 48a (of the lever 48) makes contact with the hollow shaft 42a. and its end is arrested thereby, thus causing the lever 48 to swing out of engagement with the projection 59 and freeing the lever 3! for controlling the dual valves through the me dium of the rods 29 and 30.

The dispensing operation is as follows:

Assuming that the parts are in the position explained in the preceding paragraph, the drinking cup or receptacle being in the receiver 32, the lever 3| being in the inclined position shown in Fig. 1, but released from the detent 48 as in Fig. 5, and the parts 2|, 28, 25 and 35) being positioned as in Fig. 9; the user presses the cup down (against resistance of the weight 5|) until the lever 3| is arrested by the projection 3%, holds it there (until he counts 15, for instance), giving time for the measuring compartment to fill, and then releases the cup to permit the adjacent end of the lever 3| to rise and to raise the dual valveclosures so the measured liquid will flow out thereunder and through the spout into the cup which is large enough to hold the measured quantity; but the filled cup is not suificient to overcome the pressure and leverage of the weighted end of the lever 35, for such pressure and leverage must be great enough to withstand the weight of liquid on the valve-closure 2? in addition to the other weights imposed on the inner or receiving end of the lever 3|. Therefore, when the measured quantity enters the cup, and when the described dispensing operation is completed, the inlet of the measuring compartment remains closed until it is desired to dispense another measured quantity, whereupon the described operation is repeated,

Although we have described this embodiment of our invention specifically, it is not our intention to limit our patent protection to these specific details of construction, arrangement or combination, for the invention is susceptible or numerous changes within the scope of the inventive ideas herein implied-and hereafter claimed What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a liquid dispenser, the combination of a liquid container having a dispensing spout in its lower end, a cooling chamber in which the liquid container is normally enclosed, saidlcooling chamber having a door provided with an opening through which said spout normally protrudes in position to deiiver liquid from the container to an open-top receptacle, said container having a measuring compartment disposed wholly therein and normally within said cooling chamber and being effective to apportion the liquid into specific quantities and to deliver the respective specific quantities through said spout,

a receiver-supporting element, a receiver mounted for upward and downward movements on the receiver-supporting element and under said spout and effective to hold said receptacle in a position to receive liquid from the spout, and controlling means including an element that connects said measuring compartment to said receiver-supporting element in an eiTective relation for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of said measuring compartment and through said spout in co sequence of the downward and upwardmovements of said receiver-supporting element. 7

2. The combination defined by claim 1, a sup? porting frame having said cooling chamber and receiver-supporting element secured thereon normally in an elevated position in which said receiver is convenient to the reach of a persons hands, and hoisting means on said frame and effective to contribute to the hoisting of at least the floor of said cooling chamber to said elevated position from a lower position convenient for placing the liquid container on the floor of said cooling chamber.

3. The combination defined by claim 1, a supporting frame having said cooling chamber and receiver-supporting element secured thereon nor'- mally in an elevated position in which said receiver is convenient to the reach of a persons hand, and hoisting means on said frame and elfective to contribute to the hoisting of at least the floor of said cooling chamber to said elevated position from a lower position convenient for placing the liquid container on the floor of said cooling chamber, said hoisting means being provided with a ratchet which enables it to hold the floor of the cooling chamber at different eleva tions.

4. The combination defined by claim 1, the main part of said cooling chamber being fixed at the top part of said frame while the floor of the cooling chamber is mounted for up and down movements and constitutes a closure for an opening in the bottom of said main part, and hoisting means on said frame in eifective relation for contributing to the lowering of said floor to a position where it can receive said liquid container under the last said opening, said hoisting means and floor being in a cooperative relation for raising the liquid container into said main part of the coolingchamber and closing the last said opening.

5. The combination defined by claim 1, a supporting framehaving said cooling chamber and receiver-supporting element secured thereon normally in an elevated positionin which said receiver is convenient to the reach of a persons hands, hoisting means on said frame and operable to contributeto the hoisting of at least the said receiver-supporting element and said floor to said elevated position from a lower position convenient for placing the liquid container on said floor, and a detent mounted for engagement with said controlling means so as to prevent accidental downward movement of said receiver when the latter is out of said elevated position, means being provided to disengage said detent from said controlling means when said receiver is in said elevated position. a

6. The combination defined by claim 1, a said controlling means including valve-mechanism which is operable for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of said measuring compartment, said spout being seated for movement in an openingof the liquid container from its protruding position to a position wholly within said liquid container and in a position to contact with said valvemechanism in proper relation to combine with the latter for preventing untimely flowing of the'liquid into said measuring compartment, said liquid container having a closure seat around the opening that receives-said spout, and a removable closure of proper shape to fit in said closureseat and exclude extraneous matter while holding said spout'in securing engagement with said valve-mechanism.

7. The combination of a liquid container having a cover which has an opening and also has a closure-seat around said opening, a closure to removably fit in said closure-seat, a supporting seat of proper shape to conform to the exterior of said cover when the container and its cover are inverted and seated thereon so that the cover becomes the lower'end of the container and is held in the latter by said supporting seat, said lower end having therethrough a sumciently large opening in position for permitting said closure to belpassed therethrough from the closure-seat, said lower end including a measuring compartment and a spout-receiving compartment, a spout normally seated for protruding from said spoutreceiving compartment and adapted to be confined in the latter by means of said closure, said measuring compartment having an outlet-opening and an inlet-opening, a vertically reciprocable valve-mechanism in proper relation with the measuring compartment for alternately closing said inlet-opening and unclosing said outletopening, said valve mechanism being in contact with said spout when the latter is wholly within the spout-receiving compartment and thereby held in position for closing the inlet-opening, and means to hold said valve-mechanism in the position for closing the inlet opening when the spout is in its protruding position, the last said means being vertically reciprocable so as to effect the vertical reciprocation oi the valve mechanism.

JULIAN C. BARREDA. HAROLD J. McLAUGI-ILIN. 

